April 16, 2013, 6:41PM

The LSU Board of Supervisors will consider two proposed agreements on Wednesday that would strip their oversight of public hospitals in New Orleans and Lafayette, moving control to nonprofit hospital companies. In New Orleans, the nonprofit that runs Children's Hospital and Touro Infirmary will take over operations of the Interim LSU Public Hospital and, eventually, the $1.1 billion facility... Full story »

April 16, 2013, 6:11PM

Having a criminal history won't disqualify certain prospective parents from adopting, if a bill approved Tuesday by the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee is passed this year. The committee also approved a bill to reduce the amount of time tax-delinquent property owners can reclaim their homes or lots after a tax sale. House Bill 219, sponsored by Homer... Full story »

April 16, 2013, 5:20PM

Flags in Louisiana will be flown at half-staff until sunset on Saturday to honor the victims of the bombings at Monday's Boston Marathon that killed three and left more than 140 injured. "What happened in Boston was a horrific and inexplicable act of terrorism. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the heroic first responders who... Full story »

April 16, 2013, 4:13PM

Legislation that would prohibit pet owners from transporting their uncrated dogs in the back of pickup trucks while driving -- but only along the interstate -- passed favorably out of a House committee Monday. Rep. Tom Willmott, R-Kenner, told the House Committee of Transportation, Public Works and Highways that House Bill 470 was designed primarily to reduce the number of... Full story »

April 16, 2013, 3:58PM

A bill aimed at providing better services to at-risk youth cleared its first hurdle in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, passing with strong bipartisan support. The bill, proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal, would create a single case management system for children and teens who are in the state's child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Senate Bill 107, sponsored... Full story »

April 16, 2013, 3:21PM

David Gilmore, the administrative receiver for the Housing Authority of New Orleans, clashed with protesters at the agency's board meeting Tuesday (April 16), angrily refuting accusations that he lied in order to curry favor with the construction industry. At issue is a policy HANO approved in March 2012 that required contractors overseeing projects worth more than $25 million to... Full story »

April 16, 2013, 2:15PM

The House Civil Law and Procedure Committee temporarily shelved a bill Tuesday that would require the state to perform paternity tests before ordering fathers to pay child support. The Department of Child and Family Services, which performs paternity tests when fatherhood is contested during a child support proceeding, spoke out against the bill. DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier said that... Full story »

April 16, 2013, 1:38PM

Drivers in a three-wheeled "ultra-high mileage" car will not be required to wear a helmet under a bill unanimously passed by a House transportation committee Monday, a move company officials say will help them sell more of the vehicles. Full story »

April 16, 2013, 9:52AM

Capitol Beat is a video series dedicated to bringing Louisiana residents coverage of the 2013 legislative session. Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax plan, transportation, higher education and criminal justice are expected to be some of the hot topics this session. To receive updates on all legislative session news from the Capitol, follow @brnola on Twitter or "Like" the NOLA.com |... Full story »

April 16, 2013, 8:10AM

Fireworks are expected at the Housing Authority of New Orleans board meeting Tuesday (April 16) as public housing advocates plan to protest the agency's decision to back out of a year-old policy requiring contractors to enter into workforce agreements with labor unions on multimillion-dollar projects. Colette Tippy, lead organizer of Stand with Dignity, accused David Gilmore, HANO's administrative receiver,... Full story »

April 15, 2013, 6:01PM

Representatives from City Hall and the U.S. Justice Department remain sharply divided over who should monitor progress on a sweeping court agreement aimed at cleaning up the New Orleans Police Department, with city officials pulling for a firm run by Chicago's former top cop and federal officials in favor of a team that has more experience dealing with consent... Full story »

April 15, 2013, 5:45PM

Though it has identified roughly $116 million in federal aid for property owners rebuilding or elevating homes after hurricanes Katrina and Rita that may have been misspent, the state agency in charge of the Road Home program has failed to recover any of that money, according to a state legislative auditor's letter released Monday. That puts the state in... Full story »

April 15, 2013, 5:24PM

The House Appropriations Committee on Monday approved a bill that backers say could bring in an additional $170 million in Medicaid money for hospitals that care for the poor and uninsured. House Bill 532, co-sponsored by House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, and Speaker Pro Tem Walt Leger, D-New Orleans, would allow hospitals to deposit money into a "stabilization... Full story »

April 15, 2013, 4:45PM

The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill Monday that would require any Clean Water Act fines received from the federal government as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill to go solely to coastal restoration and protection programs. A nearly identical piece of legislation, House Bill 94, was also introduced this year by state Rep. Ray... Full story »

April 15, 2013, 3:00PM

The House Committee on Commerce approved a bill Monday expanding the number of residential units and residential square footage allowed under the Louisiana Enterprise Zone Act while facing opposition from lawmakers who questioned the benefits of the economic development zone program. Full story »